Toy animal formed of rigid plastic container body and plush head and limbs

ABSTRACT

The toy animal of the present invention is formed of a rigid plastic container body, and a plush head and limbs attached to and extending from the plastic container body. The container body is made of two hollow rigid plastic parts, each having an edge. A zipper is situated between the edges of the plastic parts to connect the parts to form a container for small objects and the like. A zipper connects the plastic parts. The zipper parts are each fixed to the edge of a different one of the plastic parts such that the container can be opened and closed. Each of the zipper parts has an engaging portion mounted to a fabric base which is fastened to the edge of the plastic part by stitching.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A “SEQUENCE LISTING”, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAMLISTING APPENDIX SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a toy, and more particularly, to a toyanimal formed of a rigid plastic container body and push head and limbs.

2. Description of Prior Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR1.97 and 1.98

Toys in the shape of animals made of plush material are well-known. Toysmade of rigid plastic are known. Containers made of rigid plastic areknown. However, there are no toys that combine those elements togetherto form a children's play toy that is also a container for smallobjects.

To be useful, a container must be able to be opened and closed to allowentrance and removal of objects. Containers often made of rigid partswhich can be joined and separated as needed. Various common devices andmethods have been employed rigid plastic container parts. One commonjoinder device not used for this purpose is the zipper. That is becauseof the difficulty of securely fixing the zipper parts to the edges ofthe rigid plastic container parts.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The toy of the present invention is formed of a rigid plastic containerbody, and a plush head and limbs which are attached to and extend fromthe plastic container body. The container body is made of two hollowrigid plastic parts, each having an edge. A zipper is situated betweenthe plastic parts to connect the parts to form a container for smallobjects and the like. The zipper parts are each fixed to the edge of adifferent one of the plastic parts such that the container can be openedand closed. Each of the zipper parts has an engaging portion mounted toa fabric base which is fastened to the edge of the plastic part. Atleast one of the rigid plastic body parts has an opening configured toreceive the head.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF DRAWINGS

To these and to such other objects that may hereinafter appear, thepresent invention relates to a toy animal formed of rigid plasticcontainer body and plush head and limbs as described in detail in thefollowing specification and recited in the annexed claims, takentogether with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the toy of the present invention showingthe front, right side and top thereof;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the toy of FIG. 1 showing the front, leftside and bottom thereof;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the toy of the present invention showingthe rear, left side and bottom thereof;

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the toy of the present invention showingthe rear, right side and top thereof, with the container body open;

FIG. 5 is a front elevation view of the toy:

FIG. 6 is a rear elevation view of the toy:

FIG. 7 is an elevation view of the toy showing the left side thereof:

FIG. 8 is an elevation view of the toy showing the right side thereof:

FIG. 9 is a plan view of the toy showing the top thereof:

FIG. 10 is a plan view of the toy showing the bottom thereof:

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the zipper parts prior to beingengaged;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged image of the exterior of the toy showing thezipper parts engaged and the stitching which attaches the zipper partsto the rigid container body parts; and

FIG. 13 is an isometric exploded view of the rigid plastic body partsshowing the opening for the head.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As seen in FIGS. 1-10, which depict a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention in the form of a monkey, the toy of the presentinvention includes a rigid plastic container body 10, and a plush head12 and limbs 14 attached to and extending from body 10.

The container body is made up of first and second rigid plastic parts16, 18. Parts 16, 18 are each hollow and when connected form anenclosure for small objects and the like. Parts 16, 18 are preferablytransparent such that the contents of the container can be viewed.

As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 11, each of the parts 16, 18 has an edge, 16a, 18 a. A zipper 20 is situated between edges 16 a and 18 a of theplastic parts, such that the plastic parts can be separated to accessthe contents of the container body and join to close the container.

Zipper 20 is formed of first and second engaging zipper parts, 22, 24.Each of the zipper parts 22, 24 is fixed to the edge of a different oneof the first and second rigid plastic parts 16, 18 such that the partscan be connected to form the container.

Zipper part 22 includes an engaging portion 22 a. Zipper part 24includes an engaging portion 24 a. Zipper parts 22 a and 24 a aredesigned to mate with each other to attach the container parts 16 and 18together.

Each of the zipper parts 22 and 24 also includes a fabric base. Theengaging portion is mounted to the fabric base. The fabric base of eachzipper part has a generally “U” shape. The fabric base of each zipperpart is attached to a different one of the container body parts 16, 18,proximate the edge thereof, to secure the zipper parts to the containerbody parts, respectively.

More particularly, as best seen in FIG. 11, the engaging portion 22 a ofzipper part 22 is mounted to fabric base 22 b. The engaging portion 24 aof zipper part 24 is mounted to fabric base 24 b.

Fabric base 22 b has first and second sides 26 and a middle portion 28.Engaging portion 22 a is mounted to middle portion 28 of the fabric base22 b.

Fabric base 24 b has first and second sides 30 and a middle portion 32.Engaging portion 24 a is mounted to the middle portion 32 of fabric base24 b.

The surfaces of sides 26 of fabric base 22 b are fixed to the oppositesurfaces of the rigid plastic container part 16, proximate the edge 16 athereof. The surfaces 30 of fabric base 24 b are fixed to the oppositesurfaces of the rigid plastic container part 18, proximate the edge 16 athereof.

Each zipper part 22, 24 is secured to the edge of a different one of thecontainer body parts 16, 18 by a series of spaced stitches formed ofstrong thread 34. Thread 32 penetrates fabric base sides and the rigidplastic container part to which the zipper part is attached.

The exterior of the zipper 20 is illustrated in FIG. 12. That figureshows that thread 34 forms a seam along each if the fabric base 22 b andfabric base 24 b of zipper parts 22, 24, thereby securing the zipperparts to the respective container body parts.

The plush head 12 and plush limbs 14 are also attached to the rigidcontainer body part 16 at spaced locations around the container bodypart 16 by the seam formed by thread 34, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

A shoulder strap 36 may be attached to the toy as illustrated.Preferably, strap 34 is size adjustable and detachable from the toybody.

FIG. 13 shows an isometric exploded view of the rigid plastic body parts16 and 18. The opening 15 for head 12 in plastic body part 16 is clearlyshown.

It will now be understood that the toy of the present invention isformed of a rigid plastic container body, and a plush head and limbswhich are attached to and extend from the plastic container body. Thecontainer body is made of two hollow rigid plastic parts, each having anedge. A zipper situated between the plastic parts connects the parts toform a container for small objects and the like. The zipper parts areeach fixed to the edge of a different one of the container body partssuch that the container can be opened and closed. Each of the zipperparts has an engaging portion mounted to a fabric base. The fabric baseis attached to the edge of the container body part by stitching. One ofthe rigid plastic body parts includes an opening for attaching the headto the body.

While only a single preferred embodiment of the present invention hasbeen disclosed for purposes of illustration, it is obvious that manymodifications and variations could be made thereto. It is intended tocover all of those modifications and variations which fall within thescope of the present invention, as defined by the following claims.

1. (canceled)
 2. The toy of claim 8 wherein each of said zipper partscomprises an engaging portion and a fabric base, said fabric basecomprising first and second sides and a middle portion, wherein saidengaging portion is connected to said middle portion and said first andsecond sides of said fabric base are fixed to the opposite surfaces ofthe rigid plastic container part proximate said edge thereof.
 3. The toyof claim 8 comprising a fabric base, said base comprising first andsecond sides, wherein said fabric base sides are fixed to the oppositesurfaces of the rigid plastic container part by stitches which penetratesaid fabric base sides and said rigid plastic container part.
 4. The toyof claim 8 wherein at least one of said rigid plastic body partscomprises an opening configured to receive said head.
 5. (canceled)
 6. Atoy animal formed of a rigid plastic container body, and a plush headand limbs, said container body comprising first and second rigid plasticparts, each of said rigid plastic container parts comprises an edge, azipper, said zipper comprising first and second engaging zipper parts,each of said zipper parts being fixed to said edge of a different one ofsaid first and second rigid plastic parts such that said rigid plasticcontainer parts can be joined to enclose an object, wherein each of saidzipper parts comprises an engaging portion and a fabric base, saidfabric base comprising first and second sides and a middle portion,wherein said engaging portion is connected to said middle portion andsaid first and second sides of said fabric base are fixed to theopposite surfaces of the rigid, plastic container part proximate saidedge thereof, by stitches which penetrate said fabric base sides andsaid rigid plastic container part, wherein at least one of said plushhead and limbs are attached to said container by said stitches.
 7. Thetoy of claim 6 wherein at least one of said rigid plastic body partscomprises an opening configured to receive said head.
 8. A toy animalcomprising a body, head and limbs, said body comprising first and secondplastic parts forming a container enclosing an interior space, each ofsaid plastic container parts comprising an edge and sides proximate saidedge, at least one of said head and limbs being attached to andextending from at least one of said plastic parts proximate said edgethereof, a zipper, said zipper comprising first and second engagingzipper parts, each of said zipper parts being fixed to said sides of adifferent one of said first and second plastic parts by stitching whichextends through said plastic container part such that said plasticcontainer parts can be attached to enclose said interior container spaceand separated to provide access to said interior container space.
 9. Atoy comprising a hollow rigid plastic container and flexibleextremities, said container comprising first and second rigid plasticparts enclosing an interior space, said extremities being attached toand extending from at least one of said rigid plastic container parts, azipper, said rigid plastic container parts being attached to each otherby said zipper, wherein said zipper and at least one of said extremitiesare attached to at least one of said rigid plastic container parts bystitching which extends through said rigid plastic container part suchthat said rigid plastic container parts can be attached to enclose saidinterior container space and separated to provide access to saidinterior container space.